How to Fix the Google Chrome DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error

Sometimes when you are using Chrome to access a website, the page fails to load and you see the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. If you want to clear this error from your Chrome browser, you can find seven methods to address the Chrome problem below.

What Is the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error?

DNS is the abbreviation for Domain Name System. Every website has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. With the invention of the World Wide Web, users can now use website domain names instead of IP addresses. For example, if you want to visit www.example.com, you type that domain name into your browser search bar, and it takes you there. However, the IP address for that website is 93.184.216.119. To find the website, the browser uses a DNS to match the domain name to the IP address. The IP address is what the browser needs to know to show you the page. So, when you type a WWW domain name into the browser, it looks up the corresponding IP address using a DNS and then it can take you there. Sometimes, this lookup process fails, and that is when you see the error message.

Fixing the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error

Make Sure Chrome Is Up-to-date

A variety of problems can occur if Chrome is not up-to-date. Although the browser should automatically update, checking for updates manually can ensure that an out-of-date browser is not causing the problem.

Step #1

You will see three dots in the right-hand corner of the Chrome browser. Click on these to access the Customize and Control Google Chrome menu.

Step #2

When the menu opens, choose “Help” and then “About Google Chrome.”

Step #3

You will see a message stating that Chrome is checking for updates. When the check is finished, you should restart Chrome and see if that resolves the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.

Continue reading if the page-load problem is still there.

Flush the Windows DNS Cache

Sometimes the DNS cache that Windows stores interferes with the browser being able to look up the right IP address quickly. This method clears that cache.

Step #1

Type “Command Prompt” into the Start menu. Right-click on the “Command Prompt” option and choose “Run as administrator” from the drop-down menu. Click “Yes” to give the program permission to make changes and continue to the Command Prompt.

Step #2

In the Command Prompt, enter “ipconfig /release” without quotation marks. Press [Enter].

Step #3

Now, enter “ipconfig /flushdns” without quotation marks. Press [Enter] again.

Step #4

Next, type in “ipconfig /renew” without quotation marks. Press [Enter].

Step #5

Finally, type “exit” without quotation marks. Press [Enter]. This closes the Command Prompt.

Try to reaccess the page. Continue to the next method if you still see the error.

Clean your Chrome Cache

Another reason you might see the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is that your Chrome cache needs to be cleaned out. Follow these steps to clean it:

Step #1

Again, click on the three dots in the right-hand corner of the Chrome browser.

Step #2

Hover your mouse over “More tools.” A side menu will appear. Choose the option to “Clear browsing data.”

Step #3

In the next pop-up window that appears, open the “Advanced” tab. Then make sure “Cookies and other site data” is checked as well as “Cached images and files.” Then Clear Data (from the beginning of time if you are asked).

Step #4

Once Google has cleaned the cache, close Chrome, and reload the website to see if the problem is resolved.

Continue reading the next method if the webpage still fails to load.

Clear Chrome’s DNS Cache

Sometimes you visit a risky website without knowing it. When this happens, it can corrupt your cache and cause many loading issues on other websites. This method tells you how to fix this problem.

Step #1

Type or cut and paste “chrome://net-internals/#dns” into the Chrome search bar without the quotation marks. This brings you to the Chrome DNS page. When you are on it, click the “Clear host cache” button.

Step #2

Now, type or cut and paste “chrome://net-internals/#sockets” into the Chrome search bar without the quotation marks. This brings you to the Chrome sockets page. On this page, click the “Flush socket pools” button.

Reset the Windows Sockets

If your computer’s IP settings are not correctly configured or if they become corrupt, it could cause a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. Make sure you create a system restore point before doing this method.

Step #1

Reopen the Command Prompt by typing “Command Prompt” without quotation marks into the Start menu. Right-click “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator.” Click “Yes” to allow the program to make changes to the computer.

Step #2

Type “netsh winsock reset catalog” without quotation marks into the prompt, and press [Enter].

Step #3

You should see confirmation that the Catalog was reset. Although it also will say that you need to restart the computer, you can ignore these reminders for now. At the new prompt, type in “netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log” without quotation marks. Press [Enter].

Step #4

Finally, type “netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log” without the quotation marks, and hit [Enter]. Another list will populate.

Step #5

When the command is finished running, close the command prompt and restart your computer using the power icon on the Start menu.

Check to see if you can connect to the Internet. If you are still having problems, continue reading.

Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus

Sometimes third-party antivirus programs interfere with your connection. Whenever a third-party antivirus is suspected of causing computer problems, you need first to check to make sure Windows Defender (Microsoft’s built-in antivirus) is deactivated. Running two antivirus programs (Windows Defender and a third-party antivirus) at the same time can cause many problems as the two can interfere with each other. To find out how to deactivate Windows Defender, click here.

Step #1

With Windows Defender disabled, check to see if you can access the webpage. If you can’t, you need to uninstall your antivirus software. Press the [X] and [Windows] keys on your keyboard, together. Click on “Settings.”

Step #2

Choose “Apps” in the Settings window. In the “Apps & Features” submenu, scroll until you find your antivirus program. Click on it, and then click the “Uninstall” button.

Step #3

Click on the Start menu Power icon and restart your computer.

Step #4

If the problem is not resolved, reinstall your antivirus and move on to the next method. If the problem is resolved, you can try reinstalling the third-party antivirus in case a Windows update corrupted it. If the problem reappears when you reinstall the antivirus, you will need to uninstall it and find another third-party antivirus or turn on Windows Defender and use that.

Disconnect From Your VPN

If you are using a VPN, it is possible that is interfering with your connectivity. If you do not have a VPN, skip this method and go on to the next one.

Step #1

Press the [X] and [Windows] keys at the same time. Choose “Settings” from the list.

Step #2

Click “Network & Internet” in the Settings window. In the next window, click “VPN” on the left. Your VPN will appear on the top left. Click “Disconnect” underneath it.

Step #3

If the problem is not resolved, reconnect to your VPN and continue to the next method. If the problem is resolved, you can try reconnecting to the VPN. You may have to find another VPN if you need to regularly access the website and your VPN is preventing it.

Change to Chrome’s DNS

In some cases, you see the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error because your computer is set to use a DNS that is not owned by Google. Searching another DNS may take Chrome too long, causing the search to time out and the error to appear. These steps will resolve the issue if that is the case.

Step #1

Click the “Settings” icon on the Start menu.

Step #2

Choose “Network & Internet” from the Settings menu. Then select Ethernet. On the right, choose “Change adapter settings.”

Step #3

Choose the network that is active and right-click on it. Choose “Properties” from the drop-down menu that appears.

Step #4

In the Properties window, click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/Ipv4).” Then click on “Properties.”

Step #5

Click “Use the following DNS server address” and type in the following settings:

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8

Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Step #6

Click “OK.”